Lake Hortonia dam
Lake Hortonia
Lake Hortonia, located in Hubbardton, Vermont, is a picturesque water resource with a primary purpose of recreation. The dam at Lake Hortonia is a concrete structure with a height of 16 feet and a length of 150 feet, completed in 1955. With a storage capacity of 4500 acre-feet and a surface area of 449 acres, the lake provides ample opportunities for outdoor activities such as boating, fishing, and swimming.
Managed by the Vermont Department of Environmental Conservation, Lake Hortonia is regulated, permitted, inspected, and enforced by the state agency to ensure its safety and compliance with environmental standards. The dam is classified as having a significant hazard potential, but is currently assessed to be in fair condition as of the last inspection in August 2016. While there are no associated structures or spillways, the dam serves as a key element in maintaining the water levels of the Hubbardton River-TR tributary.
Water and climate enthusiasts visiting Lake Hortonia can appreciate its serene beauty and recreational offerings, while also recognizing the importance of responsible management and maintenance of the dam to ensure the safety of the surrounding community and environment. As one of the many water resources in Vermont, Lake Hortonia serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between human enjoyment of natural resources and the need for sustainable conservation practices in the face of climate change.
Dam data reference
Condition Assessment
- Satisfactory
- No existing or potential dam safety deficiencies are recognized. Acceptable performance is expected under all loading conditions (static, hydrologic, seismic) in accordance with the minimum applicable state or federal regulatory criteria or tolerable risk guidelines.
- Fair
- No existing dam safety deficiencies are recognized for normal operating conditions. Rare or extreme hydrologic and/or seismic events may result in a dam safety deficiency. Risk may be in the range to take further action.
- Poor
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized for normal operating conditions which may realistically occur. Remedial action is necessary. POOR may also be used when uncertainties exist as to critical analysis parameters which identify a potential dam safety deficiency.
- Unsatisfactory
- A dam safety deficiency is recognized that requires immediate or emergency remedial action for problem resolution.
- Not Rated
- The dam has not been inspected, is not under state or federal jurisdiction, or has been inspected but, for whatever reason, has not been rated.
Hazard Potential Classification
- High
- Dams assigned the high hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation will probably cause loss of human life.
- Significant
- Dams assigned the significant hazard potential classification are those dams where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life but can cause economic loss, environmental damage, disruption of lifeline facilities, or impact other concerns. Significant hazard potential classification dams are often located in predominantly rural or agricultural areas but could be in areas with population and significant infrastructure.
- Low
- Dams assigned the low hazard potential classification are those where failure or mis-operation results in no probable loss of human life and low economic and/or environmental losses. Losses are principally limited to the owner's property.
- Undetermined
- Dams for which a downstream hazard potential has not been designated or is not provided.
Plan around the weather
Same NOAA / yr.no feed Snoflo's iOS app uses. Watch the precipitation column on the meteogram -- rain on the basin upstream typically lifts inflow 24-72 hours later.
Next 5 days, hour by hour
Temperature line with weather symbols on top, snow + rain accumulation as columns, humidity as a dotted line.
5-day forecast table
Every 3 hours, broken out across temperature, snow, rain, humidity, and wind. Each cell is colour-coded relative to the column min/max.
| Time | Condition | Temp (°F) | Snow (in) | Rain (in) | Humidity (%) | Wind (mps) | Wind dir |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loading detailed forecast… | |||||||
15-day temperature & precipitation
Daily temperatures, snow, and rain projected over the next two weeks.
Nearby streamflow gauges
USGS streamgauges around Lake Hortonia -- inflows here typically show up in storage 24-72 hours later.
| Streamgauge | Discharge | View |
|---|---|---|
| Poultney River Below Fair Haven | 352 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Center Rutland | 643 cfs | → |
| Putnam Creek East Of Crown Point Center Ny | 373 cfs | → |
| Otter Creek At Middlebury | 1,270 cfs | → |
| Mettawee River Near Middle Granville Ny | 263 cfs | → |
| New Haven River At Brooksville Nr Middlebury | 153 cfs | → |
Make a day of it
Boat launches, lakeside camping, fishing access, and other reservoirs near Lake Hortonia.
Boat launches
- Lhcs Road Hubbardton
- Sudbury
- Willowbrook Road Sudbury
- Orwell
- Mount Independence Road Orwell
- Lake Road 4819, Benson
Campgrounds
- Half Moon Pond State Park
- Bomoseen State Park
- Country Village Campground
- Branbury State Park
- Silver Lake Campground
- Rogers Rock - Dec
Fishing spots
- Black Pond Access Point
- Lefferts Pond Area
- Combination Pond
- Moses Pond
- Heinburg Bridge Fishing Access Pier
Paddle runs
- End Of Fs Road 243 To Neshobe River
- Headwaters To End Of Fs Road 243
- Headwaters To Woodstock, Vt
- Confluence With Alder Creek To Confluence With Middlebury River
- Source Above Fr 55 To Proclamation Boundary (Stony Brook)
- Proclamation Boundary To Proclamation Boundary
More reservoirs
Track Lake Hortonia in the Snoflo app
Save this dam as a favorite and get the local NOAA / yr.no forecast plus regional flow context wherever you are.
About Lake Hortonia
Where does the data for Lake Hortonia come from?
Structural and regulatory data come from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' National Inventory of Dams (NID). Weather forecast comes from NOAA / yr.no -- the same feed Snoflo's iOS app uses.
How often is the report updated?
NID structural data refreshes annually as the Corps publishes updated assessments. The weather forecast refreshes throughout the day.
What does the Significant hazard rating mean?
The Corps of Engineers' hazard potential classification grades probable consequences if the dam fails: High = probable loss of human life; Significant = no probable loss of human life but possible economic loss / environmental damage; Low = no probable loss of human life, only minor economic / environmental losses. See the Dam Data Reference card above for the full definitions.
What's "% of normal"?
The current storage value compared to the historical average storage on this calendar day. 100% = right on average; values above 100% mean above-normal storage (wet year); values below mean below-normal (dry year or drought).
Can I get alerts when storage crosses a threshold?
Yes -- alerts are managed in the Snoflo iOS app. Favorite this dam, set a threshold, and you'll get a push the moment conditions cross.
Other water bodies near here
Snoflo-tracked reservoirs and dams within driving distance of Lake Hortonia.